Coaches will be on offer when rail line is closed between Hemel Hempstead and London during May bank holiday weekend

London Midland. PNL-140318-115603001

Train operator London Midland has unveiled alternative travel arrangements for when railway workmen move in over the May Day bank holiday weekend.

As part of an £81 million investment to improve reliability and punctuality on the West Coast Mainline, Network Rail will be doing upgrade work from May 3 to 5, which means London Midland services will terminate at Hemel Hempstead.

For those wishing to travel to stations between the town and London replacement coach services will be in operation.

London Midland’s head of route Barrie Cottam said: “We apologise in advance to our customers for the disruption they will face while these essential works are carried out.

“I urge passengers to check and plan their journey arrangements in advance before travelling.”

Railway owners Network rail has, after listening to feedback from customers, already scaled back its plans for maintenance works that would have seen the busy line closed for 16 days during the summer.

The closure announcement had left commuters wondering how they would get to work and London Midland had unhelpfully advised people to avoid travelling at all if possible

Although proposed closures in August this year and February 2015 have now been scrapped the May bank holiday works are still necessary.

Network Rail route managing director Dyan Crowther said: “This line has seen tremendous growth in traffic and passengers over the last five years with the section at Watford being one of the most intensively used, high-speed sections of track in the UK. This work is absolutely essential to maintain reliable train services for the thousands of passengers who travel on this route every day.”

Online journey planning information has been amended to reflect the changes that will be in place. For more information click here